Fertilizers exported by all countries totaled US$82.5 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects an average 60.9% increase for all shippers of fertilizers over the five-year period starting in 2017 when overall fertilizer exports were worth $51.3 billion.

From 2020 to 2021, the value of exported fertilizers accelerated by 48.4%.

Fertilizers are critical agricultural drivers, essential for growing crops that feed people around the world.

The 6 biggest fertilizer exporters are Russia, mainland China, Canada, Morocco, United States of America and Saudi Arabia. Collectively, those major suppliers accounted for over half (52.6%) of globally exported fertilizers during 2021.

Among continents, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported fertilizers during 2021 with shipments valued at $29.6 billion or 35.9% of the world total. Close behind in second place were Asian exporters at 34.8% while 13.4% of international fertilizer shipments originated from North America. Another 13% was sent from exporters in Africa.

Smaller percentages came from Latin America (2.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean notably Trinidad and Tobago, then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia.

As for different types of exported fertilizers, about four-fifths (80.4%) were nitrogen-based products. Potassic fertilizers represent 15.5% compared to phosphatic fertilizers at 2.7%. Excluding those mineral or chemical fertilizer subcategories, the other fertilizer type is animal or vegetable fertilizers which accounted for the remaining 1.4%.

For research purposes, the high level 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 31 for fertilizers.

Top Fertilizers Exports by Country

Below are the 30 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fertilizers during 2021.

1. Russia: US$12.5 billion (15.1% of total exported fertilizers)
2. China: $10.9 billion (13.3%)
3. Canada: $6.6 billion (8%)
4. Morocco: $5.7 billion (6.9%)
5. United States: $4.1 billion (4.9%)
6. Saudi Arabia: $3.6 billion (4.4%)
7. Netherlands: $2.9 billion (3.5%)
8. Belgium: $2.63 billion (3.2%)
9. Oman: $2.6 billion (3.1%)
10. Qatar: $2.2 billion (2.6%)
11. Germany: $1.5 billion (1.8%)
12. Israel: $1.48 billion (1.8%)
13. Egypt: $1.47 billion (1.8%)
14. Lithuania: $1.37 billion (1.7%)
15. Algeria: $1.36 billion (1.6%)
16. Spain: $1.33 billion (1.6%)
17. Jordan: $1.26 billion (1.5%)
18. Poland: $1.16 billion (1.4%)
19. Malaysia: $958 million (1.2%)
20. Nigeria: $949.8 million (1.2%)
21. United Arab Emirates: $942.5 million (1.1%)
22. Indonesia: $863.7 million (1%)
23. Finland: $819.5 million (1%)
24. Trinidad/Tobago: $720.2 million (0.9%)
25. Ukraine: $632.7 million (0.8%)
26. Italy: $600.3 million (0.7%)
27. Chile: $584.5 million (0.7%)
28. Austria: $501.1 million (0.6%)
29. France: $486.5 million (0.6%)
30. Turkey: $473.5 million (0.6%)

By value, the listed 30 countries shipped 88.7% of globally exported fertilizers in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of fertilizers since 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 2,989%), Nigeria (up 423.8%), Saudi Arabia (up 188%) and Oman (up 126.2%).

Those top suppliers that posted the mildest increases in their international sales of fertilizers were: United States of America (up 14%), Indonesia (up 23.1%) and Israel (up 23.8%).

Countries Generating Greatest Surpluses Buying and Selling Fertilizers

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for fertilizers during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported fertilizers and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Russia: US$12.3 billion (net export surplus up 79.3% since 2020)
2. China: $8.32 billion (up 127.2%)
3. Morocco: $5.42 billion (up 73.7%)
4. Canada: $4.4 billion (up 18.8%)
5. Saudi Arabia: $3.5 billion (up 203.2%)
6. Oman: $2.58 billion (up 137.2%)
7. Qatar: $2.15 billion (up 64.2%)
8. Netherlands: $1.94 billion (up 46%)
9. Israel: $1.37 billion (up 21.9%)
10. Egypt: $1.29 billion (up 32.1%)
11. Algeria: $1.28 billion (up 59%)
12. Jordan: $1.2 billion (up 39.6%)
13. Belgium: $997.7 million (up 27%)
14. United Arab Emirates: $886.5 million (reversing a -$39.6 million deficit)
15. Lithuania: $840.3 million (up 84.2%)

The Russian Federation generated the highest surplus in the international trade of fertilizers. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms Russia’s strong competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Countries Causing Worst Deficits Buying and Selling Fertilizers

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for fertilizers during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported fertilizers purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. Brazil: -US$14.9 billion (net export deficit up 89.7% since 2020)
2. India: -$9 billion (up 27.9%)
3. United States: -$6.2 billion (up 178.6%)
4. France: -$2.3 billion (up 56.8%)
5. Argentina: -$2.3 billion (up 104.7%)
6. Australia: -$2.11 billion (up 71.8%)
7. Thailand: -$2 billion (up 49.7%)
8. Mexico: -$1.7 billion (up 45%)
9. Bangladesh: -$1.6 billion (up 147.9%)
10. Turkey: -$1.5 billion (up 102%)
11. Indonesia: -$1.3 billion (up 110.9%)
12. Colombia: -$988.3 million (up 66.5%)
13. Pakistan: -$928.3 million (up 96%)
14. Ukraine: -$921.7 million (up 98.6%)
15. Romania: -$900.7 million (up 142.1%)

Brazil, South America’s biggest country including by land area, incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of fertilizers. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights Brazil’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for fertilizers-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.

Major Fertilizers Exporting Companies

Below are global fertilizers-processing conglomerates that represent established players engaged in the international trade of fertilizers. The home country for each is shown within parenthesis.

• Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals (Egypt)
• Acron Group (Russia)
• Intrepid Potash (United States)
• Nutrien (Canada)
• Sinofert (China)

 

See also Top Fertilizers Imports by Country, Top Pesticides Exporters, Chemical Exports by Country and Top Water and Ice Exporters by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 16, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 16, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 16, 2022

Wikipedia, Category:Fertilizer companies. Accessed on May 16, 2022